The Forayer

[flaxton]

First Happy New Year all. I was with family yesterday so didn't get the opportunity to join in the foraying but looking at the number of posts and views plenty of you did. I will tackle that thread later.

I got my copy of the Forayer on Wednesday and three of the four letters are about WAB in a not particularly friendly vein. We all know the problems Myconik and others had with CATE and ABFG but I think there was a lot of support from WAB members and this is not recognised by the letters.
I (in my usual sitting on the fence style) am a member of both the ABFG and BMS and I can see good and less good in both. But I also think that there is a lot of good in the WAB site. Yes members on here have opposing views on how mycology should be treated but that is not a bad thing.
I will continue to try and see all sides in these arguments but continue to do my best to support all groups and may very well write to the Forayer and have my say.
Without stirring up a hornets nest have members, especially those members of the ABFG any views.

Mal

[KeenTeen17]

what sort of problems did mykonik have? I haven't seen him on in a while.

Is it stuff like the conflicting debate about the need for common names or is it the status of which fungus belongs in which species?

[NickCantle]

Well as an ABFG member and a WAB member, I think that the whole thing has been blown clear out of water. I sincerely hope the future of Mycology does not consist of petty and stupid arguments between 'opposing' organisations. I haven't received my copy of The Forayer this quarter, but I am both interested and saddened to learn why and who have been putting a derogatory slant on WAB. I'm betting it's people who have not visited the site, conversed with members or are even aware of the situation. With fear of speaking out of turn, it's the people that cosy up to Michael Jordan, agreeing with him for the sake of it that are creating unnecessary tension between themselves and the people/website that they're insulting. Don't get me wrong, I really do like Michael, he's been a good mentor in Microscopy and a good person to have correspondence with, but there seems to be so much anger in the ABFG!

If I don't like what I read about WAB, I will be emailing Michael and explaining that there are two sides of a coin, and a web site.

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

what sort of problems did mykonik have? I haven't seen him on in a while.

Is it stuff like the conflicting debate about the need for common names or is it the status of which fungus belongs in which species?

It's a long and complex story about a despute on WAB.

[CapAndBracket]

Curiously, common names are the only thing i know of myconik and m.jordan
agreeing on, (they both despise them).

Like those above i have no trumpet for either mycocamp, and let both societies
know how usefull i think WAB has been, nobody is perfect same as no
field guide is perfect, but together we just might get better, here's to
2009 and i thank you all in advance for your helpful comments and putting
up with me.

Cheers J.P.

[cybershot]

My thoughts on this matter are verbalized in post #17 on the following thread:

2008 Fungi Highlights

Cheers
David

[cybershot]

I have just posted to the new ABFG Forum boards:

"Judging from the correspondence in response to an editorial in the Autumn 2008 issue of the Forayer, a little bit of silt has been stirred up from the bottom of the WAB pond. On behalf of those members who have done more than just poked a stick into the crystal waters of this fount of knowledge, and who derive enormous encouragement and pleasure from immersing themselves in that virtual environment, I would like to place on record that the massive benefits to the amateur field mycologist through participation in those forums far outweigh the occasional spectacle of two entrenched dogmas worrying over a bone. I can only hope that these embryo ABFG Forums prove to be equally as informative and stay free from any such ego bashing as created that brief murky episode."

David

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by cybershot

I have just posted to the new ABFG Forum boards:

"Judging from the correspondence in response to an editorial in the Autumn 2008 issue of the Forayer, a little bit of silt has been stirred up from the bottom of the WAB pond. On behalf of those members who have done more than just poked a stick into the crystal waters of this fount of knowledge, and who derive enormous encouragement and pleasure from immersing themselves in that virtual environment, I would like to place on record that the massive benefits to the amateur field mycologist through participation in those forums far outweigh the occasional spectacle of two entrenched dogmas worrying over a bone. I can only hope that these embryo ABFG Forums prove to be equally as informative and stay free from any such ego bashing as created that brief murky episode."

David

Excellent David

Mal

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by cybershot

I have just posted to the new ABFG Forum boards:

"Judging from the correspondence in response to an editorial in the Autumn 2008 issue of the Forayer, a little bit of silt has been stirred up from the bottom of the WAB pond. On behalf of those members who have done more than just poked a stick into the crystal waters of this fount of knowledge, and who derive enormous encouragement and pleasure from immersing themselves in that virtual environment, I would like to place on record that the massive benefits to the amateur field mycologist through participation in those forums far outweigh the occasional spectacle of two entrenched dogmas worrying over a bone. I can only hope that these embryo ABFG Forums prove to be equally as informative and stay free from any such ego bashing as created that brief murky episode."

David

Well said mate- hopefully people will stop talking rubbish and actually participate on here rather than look in from the sidelines with frowns upon their faces.

[diggleken]

I'm fairly new to this as most of you know, but it saddens me that people have axes to grind over such a terrific user tool as WAB is.
Sounds a bit highbrow and holier than thou from whats intimated.
You make a judgment call over lots of things in life and WAB forum content opinions are no different in the way you should consider them.
WAB has transformed my fungal knowledge - and for pretty much everyone else it does so too.
So in the context of wildlife in general, besides fungi, WAB is beneficial - why cant some people recognise that?
I wouldnt use it if it wasnt.
In my line of work, I get kids involved with nature simply and interestingly at first - you find they soon move on and increase their nature knowledge and love spreading that to their mates.
Then they start to ask awkward questions!
WAB can help.
Cheers
Ken